How deep are school district cuts for 2011? It depends on which budget you use

March 06, 2010

Local school district officials are using two sets of numbers to build their 2011 budgets, and both are above board.

They're relying on the Virginia House and Senate budget proposals, spending plans that are tens of millions of dollars apart on how much money to give the state's public school districts.

But the two budget proposals provide the parameters, educators say. The final General Assembly budget likely will land between the two. The House offers less school support than the Senate, but both proposals promise millions less in school funding than the 2010 budget.

Districts on the Peninsula and in Surry and Isle of Wight counties will see between $72.8 million and $88.3 million less in state funding in 2011 than this year. The cuts have districts considering closing schools, cutting hundreds of jobs, increasing class sizes and cutting programs to balance their budgets.

The two largest districts, Newport News and Hampton, face the largest cuts in terms of dollars, but the cuts for smaller districts such as Mathews and Surry might equal 15 percent to 20 percent of their state support.

The Senate proposes spending more than $458.6 million on the nine local districts, while the House wants to give them $443 million. Most districts are using the smaller figure to develop their budgets.

Officials say they can't wait until midmonth for a compromise budget. The school boards must send their budgets to cities and counties by April 1.

— Cathy Grimes, Daily Press

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